THIRD PERIOD. by 



king, was naturally the object of its jealousy. 

 The peril was imminent : and it would have 

 been impossible to escape it , if there had not been 

 found in the convention some men of courage 

 who saw the tendency of these measures, and 

 sought to arrest their progress. Among them must 

 be particularly distinguished M. Lakanal, presi- 

 dent of the committee of public instruction, who, 

 when informed of the danger, repaired secretly 

 to the garden to confer what MM. Daubenton, 

 Thouin and Desfontaines , on the means of avert- 

 ing it. He demanded of them a copy of the regu- 

 lations that had been submitted to the constituant 

 assembly ; and the next day, the ioth of June 1 793, 

 obtained a decree for the organisation of the es- 

 tablishment , of which we shall cite the most es- 

 sential articles. 



« The establishment shall henceforth be called 

 » the Museum of Natural History- 



» Its object shall be the teaching of natural his- 

 » tory in all its branches. 



» All the officers of the Museum shall have the 

 » title of professor, and enjoy the same rights. 



» The place of intendant shall be suppressed , 

 » and the salary equally divided amongst the pro- 

 » fessors. 



» The professors shall choose a director and a 

 » treasurer every year, from among themselves, 



5. 



